Running a Writers' Critique Group in Your Classroom

Help your students improve their writing. Run a writers' critique group in your classroom!

A writers' critique group is a meeting of writers who read and critique one another's work before it goes to an editor. Many students have trouble with their writing. Why not use the writers' critique group format in the classroom setting to allow them to critique one another's work before it is submitted to you for a grade?

Writers learn as much from hearing the critiques of others' writing as they do from hearing their own work critiqued. Students are no different. This is the big benefit to running a writers' critique group in your classroom: Rather than writing alone in a vacuum, students can gain knowledge from one another. They will learn more about the writing process; how to spot grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors; and how to clearly express their thoughts. this can not only take the frustration factor out of preparing an assignment but also can result in the student getting a higher grade through the submission of a far better product than he or she could have produced without the feedback. In addition, the more polished document will be easier for you to grade.